Gedo never fought, not even a single battle took place because the people went on with their lives and ignored the situation. There is a famous Somali maahmaah (ask your dad next time you see him) that says MAREEXAAN DHIIGIIS LAMA TUSO. If this was clan army that would pillage and rape women the sheeko woud be different, but no one resisted them because remember Al Itixaad DID control Gedo for a long time and the people in Gedo are more prepared to accept Al Shabaab and its ideology than most other Somalis.paidmonk wrote:Here's a strange thought - how are disorganized, barely-armed Galguduudian clan militias defeating Al-Shabaab, and I mean casualties in the dozens battles lasting 2-3 days - yet the Marehan clan militia (better armed, better trained, better financed, better organized, & more numerous) in Gedo lasted a week total before losing all territories? Isn't this the same SNF that beat Itihad in '96?
How are these Galguduudian militias lasting so long? Al-Shabaab is not sending everything, but if they've lost 50 men in 3 days of fighting, they're sending quite a few.
As for "Galgaduud militia", they are Ahlu Sunnah whose head and military commander are both Mareexaan Caabudwaaq. They have a reason to resist on ideological grouns but once al shabaab takes over Beled-weyne these guys will disperse, they have already been defeated by a small contingent in Maxaas.
